Deer Antler Velvet

It may sound warm and fuzzy, but deer antler velvet is at the center of a new sports controversy involving Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

Lewis, who's headed to the Superbowl in New Orleans this weekend, looked into using a nasal spray made of deer antler velvet to heal his torn right triceps, Sports Illustrated reported in their February 4 issue. Lewis denies the story, calling the rumor a "trick of the devil," according to USA Today.

Made from male deer antlers during the stage when the antlers are covered in soft fuzz, the unproven performance enhancer is often used by athletes who believe it helps heal cartilage and tendon injuries more quickly and boosts strength and endurance. Food and Drug Administration, and is banned by the National Football League. each year, according to the New York University Langone Medical Center.

Deer farming is a huge industry in the country, with about 2,800 farmers that own approximately 1.1 million deer, most of them red deer, elk, and red deer elk hybrids, according to the company New Zealand Deer Velvet.

Before removing the velvet from a stag's antlers, certified veterinarians or farmers give the animal stag a local anesthetic to minimize stress.

Growth hormones, which are naturally produced by the brain and liver, regulate how our bodies grow. If the body doesn't produce enough growth hormones, dwarfism can occur; too much, and a person may get acromelagy, a type of Womens Antoine Bethea Jersey gigantism. (See a human body interactive.)

Doctors give growth hormones to young people with stunted growth, but they don't recommend it for athletes or bodybuilders, according to Spyros Mezitis, an endocrinologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

That's because many athletes take several times the recommended dosage, which can result in adverse effects, Mezitis said. For example, too much IGF 1 may cause tendons to become too tight and break or may disrupt how the body metabolizes fats and sugars.

What Does It Do?

Early research shows that IGF 1 may be effective in healing some cartilage and tendon injuries, noted Leon Popovitz, an orthopedic surgeon and founder of New York Bone Joint in Manhattan.

A recent study found that taking IGF 1 supplements is linked to improving cartilage damage in joints due to repetitive trauma, Popovitz said.

Even so, such studies are still very preliminary, and growth hormone research is still unproven, he cautioned. At the moment, deer antler velvet is available as an unregulated supplement.

"What often happens is these supplement companies grab these promising [hormone] factors, jump on them, and market them before the entire medical community has the ability to know the real detrimental effects," Popovitz said.

How Does It Work?

IGF 1 affects how the body repairs itself. First, the hormone aids in building up a matrix or base essentially a building block of protein that's needed for cells to grow.

Then, the substance increases the number of new cells that accumulate on that base, which get busy healing the injury.

What's the Bottom Line?

IGF 1 has shown promise for helping kids with stunted growth or people with dwarfism, as well as for healing cartilage or tendon injuries. It should not be used without a doctor's care, especially as a performance enhancer.

That said, "we have to be mindful that professional athletes are not typical athletes," Popovitz said, noting some are known for taking extreme measures.

The pharmaceutical companies obviously have Leon Popovitz, the orthopedic surgeon and founder of New York Bone Joint in Manhattan in their back pocket by sending kickbacks as they do to many physicians and surgeons. Dr Popovitz, did you know that the number of deaths related to conventional medical care in the past decade, is equivalent to ALL military deaths that have occurred in all wars since our nation was established. And once I read all the other comments is seems to have made things even more confusing. I do know one thing, I think it works. Been taking them since March, I'm 39 years old, I am on my 30 triathlon, I'm doing a 500 mile enduro motorcycle race, and climbing Mount Rainier as well before the year ends. I also do A LOT of offshore sailing. I have taken deer antler and every other chinese herbs under the sun and www.coltsnflofficialonline.com/41+Antoine+Bethea+Jersey+Cheap.html it has had a huge positive effect on my life. I perform better. My POINT! There is very little research on Chinese Herbs compared to Western Medicine. So some say it works, others say it doesn't.